Ethics of Socially Disruptive Technologies

@article{nokey,

title = {Concepts as artefacts. Three insights that conceptual engineering can draw from the philosophy of technology},

author = {Samuela Marchiori},

url = {https://www.esdit.nl/wp-content/uploads/Concepts-as-artefacts.-Three-insights-that-conceptual-engineering-can-draw-from-the-philosophy-of-technology.pdf},

doi = {10.1080/0020174X.2026.2682946},

year  = {2026},

date = {2026-06-05},

urldate = {2026-06-05},

journal = {Inquiry},

abstract = {In conceptual engineering, concepts are often likened to artefacts, yet engagement with the extensive theorisation of artefacts in the philosophy of technology literature remains rare. After advancing an account of concepts as akin to socio-technical artefacts that sets itself apart from Thomasson’s work on concepts as abstract cultural artefacts (Thomasson 1999, 2007, 2021), this paper draws on the philosophy of technology scholarship on socio-technical artefacts to develop three insights for conceptual engineering. First, alongside functions, concepts, like artefacts, bear affordances and produce side effects, enabling uses beyond their intended purpose. Second, (re-)engineered concepts are inherently value-laden, reflecting the priorities and biases of their designers and the socio-technical contexts in which they operate. Third, conceptual engineering would benefit from greater methodological systematicity, drawing on the structured approaches employed in the philosophy of technology for the evaluation, design, and implementation of artefacts. Together, these insights suggest that exploring a closer alignment with the philosophy of technology scholarship on socio-technical artefacts can refine the theoretical understanding of concepts as artefact-like, enrich the conceptual engineering toolkit, and open new and promising directions for research and practice.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{nokey,

title = {Overshoot and recover? On the problem of substitution between negative emissions and emissions reductions},

author = {Michel Bourban},

url = {https://www.esdit.nl/wp-content/uploads/bourban-2026-overshoot-and-recover-on-the-problem-of-substitution-between-negative-emissions-and-emissions-reductions.pdf},

doi = {doi.org/10.1177/09632719261421},

year  = {2026},

date = {2026-02-26},

urldate = {2026-02-26},

journal = {Environmental Values},

pages = {1-23},

abstract = {The remaining global carbon budget is so small that carbon dioxide removal (CDR) measures are very likely to be required to avoid dangerous climate change. Multiple scenarios consistent with a high probability of limiting global warming to well below 2 °C include removing hundreds of gigatons of carbon dioxide. At the same time, deep decarbonization pathways show that rapid and drastic emissions reductions can substantially reduce or even avoid the need for CDR. This article discusses one major problem raised by pathways relying on large-scale CDR: By potentially discouraging or at least delaying the implementation of deep decarbonization measures, such pathways might cause a substantial overshoot of the global carbon budget that would lead to severe injustices. More specifically, it highlights the problem of substitution between large-scale CDR and deep emissions reductions by explaining the structure of this problem, stressing the ethical issues it raises, and investigating three conditions under which it is likely to occur.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}